Lady Red Couture, a WeHo Drag Queen Known for Her Talent, Charm and Height, Has Died

Lady Red Couture performs her version of the song “Hello” on Dec. 26, 2016, at the weekly Monday night “Drag-stravaganza: at Micky’s in West Hollywood.

Kareemia Baines, 43, a transgender Black woman known for her performances as Lady Red Couture and the host of the popular YouTube show “Hey Qween!”, has died.

Baines, a West Hollywood resident, was an actress who performed in  “Leave It on the Floor” (2011), “Judge Lady Red”  (2015), and “Jonny McGovern: Dickmatized” (2011). Baines also was known as the “security diva” at Gym Bar, the popular West Hollywood gay sports bar, which closed recently.  And she stood out for her height — 6 feet, 7 inches. “When wearing full drag and heels, she stands at 7 feet, 2 inches tall, and as a result, has nicknamed herself ‘the world’s largest drag queen in captivity’,” says her IMDb profile. 

The cause of death is unknown, although she suffered from a chronic vomiting illness.  While she was in the hospital and had been in intensive care on a breathing tube, Jonny McGovern, the popular gay comedian and musician and a friend of hers, said it was not from a COVID-19 related illness.   McGovern confirmed Lady Red’s death in an Instagram post today: “I can’t believe I am writing this message, but the unthinkable has happened. We are in shock. We are devastated.”

Baines grew up in Park City, Utah, and attended Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, graduating in the class of 2001. Her IMDb profile says that ” although most drag queens simply use their drag name on stage and during appearances, he subscribes to the idea of living as his drag character full-time. Consequently, his drag name, “Lady Red Couture,” is also his legal name.”

Her death prompted dozens of people to express their sense of loss in online comments on her Facebook page. “Thanks for all of the condolences sent to me and my family in this time of grief… I am Grieving her… I can’t stop crying… I will not get over this ever…,” wrote her sister, Krystle Butler.